Pages

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Chanel Spring 2012 Ready to Wear Collection

Chanel Spring 2012
Ready-To-Wear Collection

By Holly Douglas

Karl
Lagerfeld transformed his runway show into a glorious parade floating under the
sea. Vogue claimed that “Lagerfeld deconstructed some of the house symbols” by using
Chanel’s “iconic pearls…as buttons or as belts.” Style.com reports that “Lagerfeld’s
aim was nothing too “Chanel” because…there are already so many people doing
that style.” However, Karl Lagerfeld maintained “recognizably within the codes
of the house.” – Style.com, using signature details such as boxy tweeds, drop
waists, and mille-feuille pleats. Nevertheless, The New York Times gave a
hopeful and positive review for the collection, even despite the tweaking to
the usual braided trims and chains. The New York Times says, “Chanel
transformed the Grand Palais today into an all-white sea floor, with
pebbles, giant stingray, coral reefs, and the singer Florence Welch emerging
from a clamshell to sing us a song. But, as Karl Lagerfeld said, volubly pleased
with himself, “no mermaids.”

Mermaids
or not, I was incredibly pleased with this collection. I first came across the
designs on my iPhone as I was perusing the Style.com application while sitting
on the number 17 bus, and it was a pleasant distraction. What did I love most?
Without a doubt, I loved the jackets. From seafoam green, coral, and blush, to
black and white, I felt that Lagerfeld beautifully executed his ocean empire
vision through his clothing. Instead of decorating the jackets with the standard
braided trim, Lagerfeld splashed a black geometric print across simple
open-knit and tweed ensembles. I liked this unexpected detail. In addition,
using fabrics with a subtle mother-of-pearl sheen certainly added to the
underwater feel of the collection, while the pearls scattered in the hair of
the models and wrapped around the waist honored the original ideas of Coco
Chanel. I personally feel that the haute-couture feel to the collection (such
as organza ribbons applied to shift dresses for a seaweed-feel) was a step in
the right direction without being too over the top. It is details such as these
that make me scrambling to pick my jaw up from the floor!

I think
any of the jackets from Chanel Spring 2012 Ready-To-Wear Collection would be
wonderful sellers. Chanel has this amazing knack for creating gorgeous,
timeless pieces that translate to women’s closets, no matter their personal
style. My first pick is a white jacket with wave-like details floating towards
the side of the jacket. This garment is an ideal transition piece between
Spring and Summer, and could even be appropriate for winter. It is structured
enough to allow the casual woman to feel dressed up, but simple enough to
create a luxuriously laid back air. My next pick is another white jacket.
However, this design is shorter, more boxy, and definitely Chanel. It is an
item for the power woman, the business woman, the casual woman – it is for ANY
woman! The clean lines and details lend to the garment’s versatility, and a
white jacket is a modern piece that is constantly in style. Last but not least,
a houndstooth print is always a classic. Have you noticed how this print never
seems to fall out of rotation? Lagerfeld’s version of the houndstooth jacket is
every bit Chanel as it is chic. Picture a business woman in this jacket, or a
trendsetter styling it with fun accessories. With such a wearable print, women
everywhere can enjoy this statement item in their closet. Finally, the unique
design and details of Lagerfeld’s collection flowed together like water. The
colours, silhouettes, and the general setting of the fashion show all created
Lagerfeld’s ocean dream. Not many designers can pull off the underwater vision,
but then again, not all designers are Karl Lagerfeld.